Early morning.
“””Hello, Director!”””
After finishing the pre-recording, we went to greet the music broadcast director with our manager.
“Oh, you don’t need to come and greet me. Just rest in the waiting room~ You must be tired.”
“Haha, we felt like we should come and say hello.”
It was to tell him that we probably wouldn’t be able to attend the main broadcast at 6 PM.
“Oh, you won’t be able to make it to the main broadcast? I see… You must be really busy, huh?”
The manager spoke cautiously, but the director didn’t seem so pleased.
It was partly due to the kind of authority he held.
But there was no good reason to refuse.
“Actually, with this album overlapping with the end of the year, we’re short on bodies. Preparing for the year-end stage and managing schedules. The awards ceremony is in just two weeks, right?”
They were busy preparing for their year-end stage.
“Oh~ MWMA? Right. I didn’t even think of that! You all must be tired, so hurry up and go rest for a bit! Work hard on your preparations! Hahaha.”
Thanks to that, we spent the busy inactive period and finally found a little time to relax during the active period.
Just enough to enjoy a full day’s holiday.
Of course, once today ends, there wouldn’t be a single moment of rest left in the year.
Not that we were really expecting it.
The only consolation was that the production team was also probably extremely busy trying to gather external planning teams with their limited personnel, so we likely wouldn’t hear from anyone today.
At least for today, we could truly spend our time feeling liberated.
‘After all, it’s a busy time for everyone…’
We should enjoy the last bit of freedom today to the fullest.
It would be better to rest and recharge…
“Hey, Do-hee! We’re all going to the board game café, so hurry up!”
Sigh…
*
However, once we arrived at the board game café and started playing, we had a lot of fun.
—dang!
“Oh, Do-hee, you’re amazing at Hali Gali.”
“I know, your reflexes are insane!”
“Sigh… I’ve never won once…”
Not because I was in first place.
“Stop pretending to compliment me and just hit your hand.”
“Oh~ Do-hee is sharp.”
“Lee Ye-ri~ How’s that? What do you think of my rhyme?”
“Are you a rapper?”
It had been a long time since we were all free from work and playing together.
“Ah, it’s really painful.”
“What can you do? You’re too fast~”
“What to do~”
But the intentional applause from Ha-rang Unni and Seo-yoon Unni.
“Forget about those two, but Hana Unni’s hands really hurt… Can’t we stop Hali Gali and play something else?”
“Do-hee, Unni will cheer for you…!”
And just as Hana Unni’s palm started to turn red and swell.
—Buzz buzz.
My smartphone vibrated in my pants pocket.
[Coral Blue Lira: (picture)]
[Coral Blue Lira: Are you doing well?]
‘…Should I ignore it?’
Her message typically piled up with work, so it seemed better to ignore it while resting.
But after seeing the attached photo, I changed my mind.
It was a screenshot of an article.
[The very sad Do-hee. ‘Reason why she looked gloomy during the recording’ (video)]
“Ugh…”
“I’ve tried producing for the first time this time.”
“It’s not easy to do it well like the seniors. It’s hard to express myself.”
But I can endure it.
“At least the song turned out okay, so that’s a relief.”
If the buzz only increases due to the issues,
And if it translates into results,
I can tolerate some light teasing.
“Oh, it’s not like that! I just posted it because it was cute~”
“Yeah.”
I’m a pro though.
“This isn’t a mental victory.”
“Seriously.”
“Still, after talking with me, you feel like your expressiveness has improved, right?”
“Let’s keep studying hard together!”
“Ugh…”
Meanwhile, Seo-yoon Unni was sneakily glancing at my chat window.
“What? Do-hee, were you in contact with Lira-senpai?”
“Huh? She hardly even talks to me, who’s in the same company! What’s up with that!”
So what?
“Let’s meet at the awards ceremony then.”
And the moment I met Lira was at the big first awards ceremony, the MWMA.
*
“Park Ye-eun, ready to roll…!”
“Sis always says she’s ready to roll.”
“I’m saying I’m pushing for this! Shabenu liked it…!”
“Those people would like it no matter what you say.”
“You could like it too…!”
“Oh, that’s a bit much for me.”
Before the awards ceremony started, in the waiting room,
The members, done with all their preparations, were a mix of excitement and nerves.
But honestly, the excitement was stronger.
How could we not expect to win the grand prize?
However, one person stood out as an exception.
“Haha. Ha. Ha…”
Seo-yoon Unni, with only the corners of her mouth lifted.
“Are you nervous again?”
“Just a little? I thought I was getting used to it and didn’t take my calming pills… Guess that was a mistake.”
This is why, for every big event, I’ve been asking the manager to bring it for me.
“The manager probably has it. Go eat one.”
“Really…? That’s our manager~”
The reason Seo-yoon Unni gets so nervous is probably because she has high expectations for herself.
So sometimes, I worry a bit.
“Hana~ let’s drink this! Champagne! Sparkling wine!”
Honestly, it would be better if Ha-rang Unni was always cheerful.
“Shall we? Okay, great! Bring it out!”
But come on, we’re not actually drinking.
“Seriously, what’s up with wanting to drink before winning the grand prize?”
As I scolded, Ha-rang Unni came over, placed her finger on my lips, and offered me a glass.
“Ahh, this is non-alcoholic. A 16-year-old can drink this.”
“Oh… then just one glass…?”
That was persuasive.
“Okay, let’s make a toast, members.”
Moments later, every member was holding a glass.
With bravado, Hana Unni hesitated, then began to blush and opened her mouth.
“Umm… honestly, I think I’ve often fallen short as a leader. There were many times I insisted on doing things my way…”
And as her face turns red in real-time.
“What’s this? Kwon Hana is turning red!”
“Hana Kwon got all red!”
“Ha-rang Unni, don’t tease me like this. I’m getting even redder.”
Amid the teasing from the members, Hana Kwon began her toast again, sticking to the original tempo.
“But still, I’m grateful that our members always work hard! What’s more important than the results is putting on a great performance today!”
And with a face completely flushed, she lifted her glass.
“Let’s finish with a chant!”
“No, I don’t want to do a chant…”
“Sigh, Do-hee.”
She really didn’t want to do it, but the atmosphere didn’t allow for refusal.
“Alright, I’ll start! Make the Heaven!”
“—Wake the Seven!”
The adrenaline was flowing, making the atmosphere enjoyable.
The non-alcoholic champagne felt like it had alcohol in it.
“The Seven members will enter in 10 minutes!”
And thus, the year’s end festivities began.
*
“Water.”
“Oh, shut up.”
“What did you just say? Hurry and bring it.”
“Ugh, seriously!”
Grumbling, the younger sibling couldn’t resist the threat and went to get the water.
“Oh, and some tangerines too~”
It was a typical family dynamic.
“Mom! Kim Sung-hyun is bothering me again!”
“Kim Sung-hyun! Didn’t I tell you not to bully Seong-a?”
Despite that, the two actually got along pretty well.
“Fine, I’ll order chicken, so you can chill out.”
“Big bro, do you need anything else?”
Both of them shared a hobby of being K-pop fans.
Of course, they didn’t like the same groups.
The older brother liked Seven, while the younger sister was a fan of Coral Blue.
“So, when are our kids coming out?”
“They’ll probably come out in the second part. All the popular ones are in the latter half.”
“Then when does the second part start?”
“It should start when the chicken arrives.”
As expected, the first part flowed with stages from large groups and promising rookies, celebrating meaningful achievements.
“This is boring…”
“Why? Their songs are good.”
Just as I was about to change the channel, our kid appeared in a waiting room interview.
“Oh!”
[—Ah, hello…! I am Eun Se-ra from Seven!]
Cute and sparkling crystal-like eyes.
Large, round eyes with slightly upturned edges.
“Wow…”
“Wow, this is the visual!”
As a face resembling a cat filled the screen, both the younger sister and I couldn’t help but gasp in admiration.
[Thank you so much to the fans who came out in this cold weather… Like the amazing stages shown by sunbaenims, we will work hard to show our own stages as well…!]
“She’s really so pretty. Now I understand why you like her.”
“This is Seven, holding two of the top visuals among the 4th gen. If you can’t win, why not join them?”
“Yeah, but Coral Blue has Jin-a, a top visual of the 3rd gen. And I prefer a strong and elegant style like Lira over that delicate look. More queen-like.”
I couldn’t say I didn’t understand my sister’s viewpoint.
After all, there was a time when I liked Coral Blue a lot too.
But the younger sibling knows nothing.
“Being young is pretty, tsk.”
“Pervert.”
I tossed the tangerine I was eating at my sibling and scratched my belly when the camera angle shifted, revealing another member on screen.
And there, beyond the brown coffin, the award ceremony hall was bustling.
It wasn’t an easy task.
Especially since the last interview was with Sara.
But no one thought it was strange.
The new interviewee was also a visual representing the 4th generation.
[Hello! I’m Do-hee Lee, the youngest member of Seven!]
With a dog-like face featuring an upward-slanting eye shape, in contrast to Sara’s downturned features, Do-hee had a coexistence of a rabbit-like look.
“Wow…”
Do-hee’s appearance, which combined a cute and glamorous look, definitely exuded an alien quality.
Just her looks were enough to make the hall buzz.
And Do-hee looked even prettier today.
“Wait, what about her…?”
It seemed like my sibling had caught on.
She must have been staring at the same place.
“Did she take it all…?”
Seven’s dress code today was white.
Do-hee was also wearing a white dress.
However, just because she was dressed didn’t mean she was revealing anything.
Only her shoulders and arms were exposed.
But due to the thin material of the dress, her silhouette was clearly visible.
It wasn’t an overwhelming level, but it certainly made her presence felt, comparable to Hana, the healthy and beloved leader of Seven.
“How many cups is that?”
“Fucking pervert.”
The fierce stare was unsettling, but curiosity can’t be contained.
“Is it around a B?”
“I don’t know.”
“She’s a girl, how can you not know that?”
“Would you even know? I haven’t touched them.”
It couldn’t be helped.
Curiosity needed to be satisfied.
“I’ll treat you to jokbal tomorrow.”
After a moment’s hesitation, my sibling finally spoke up.
“Ha-ah… C at the most. She looks like her chest might be bigger, C cup or maybe D.”
“Oh really? That’s different from what I thought.”
“The difference between collecting them and not collecting them is bigger than you’d think.”
“Is that so?”
“So now just shut up, you pervert. Really gross.”
“Oh brother, so annoying…”
Meanwhile, on the broadcast, Do-hee was still answering the MC’s questions.
Occasionally, Lira from Coral Blue, who was sitting right next to her, appeared on screen.
At that moment, Lira, who had a somewhat cold impression, made eye contact with the camera, fluttered her eyes, and waved.
“Whoa… Lira!”
Thanks to that, my sibling, who had been ranting, gushed in admiration and focused back on the screen.
“But sitting next to Do-hee and Lira feels like a princess and queen… totally sparkly.”
“Oh, right. They must be close!”
“What do you mean by that?”
“Pretty girls are usually friends. You wouldn’t know since you’re ugly.”
“I seriously want to kill you. Mom! Can’t we just report Kim Seong-hyun to the police?”
And then the latter half of Part 1’s stage started.
The waiting seats captured in the stage reaction showed Do-hee and Lira chatting, lending weight to the hypothesis that they were close.
Of course, their conversation wasn’t just all friendly.
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